From June 30 to July 7, a delegation led by Prof. Chen Qiuming, secretary of the Party Committee of Shenzhen Technology University (SZTU), visited leading universities and enterprises in Germany and Switzerland, including Technical University of Munich (TUM), Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU Munich), RWTH Aachen University, Munich University of Applied Sciences (HM), University of Education Weingarten, Sprachenakademie Aachen, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW), Siemens AG, and United Machining Solutions Group. Through signing cooperation agreements and in-person exchanges, the visit facilitated international educational cooperation and industry-education-research integration between SZTU and overseas institutions.

SZTU delegation visits TUM. [Photo/International Cooperation and Exchanges Department]

At TUM, which ranks 22nd in the QS World University Rankings 2026, the delegation visited its Institute for Advanced Study, Munich Institute of Integrated Materials, Energy and Process Engineering, and Garching Campus. Through a discussion with Stella Neuhofen, project director of TUM International, both parties reached a consensus on launching academic and cultural exchange programs. SZTU has carried out cooperation in student exchanges with TUM Asia since 2019. Next, SZTU will fully fund the top 20 science students in Guangdong Province newly admitted to SZTU each year to participate in a two-week winter school at TUM in Germany, studying cutting-edge subjects such as computer science, artificial intelligence, and robotics.

SZTU delegation at RWTH Aachen University [Photo/International Cooperation and Exchanges Department]

At RWTH Aachen University, which ranks 99th in the QS World University Rankings 2025, the delegation paid a visit to its key research institutes, laboratories and testing centers, and had friendly talks with representatives of the university, including Prof. Bernd Markert, director of the Institute of General Mechanics and chairman of the university foundation, officially signing the “Sino-German Class” cooperation agreement. According to the agreement, RWTH Aachen University will provide an exclusive quota of 20 students annually for SZTU, giving priority to admitting a whole class of SZTU students into its master’s programs in engineering and engineering management.

Both parties also plan to jointly establish an industrial research institute together with a well-known enterprise, focusing on technology research and development, achievement transformation, and talent cultivation. Drawing on the “laboratory-incubator-industrial park” transformation system of RWTH Aachen University, and integrating the three parties’ advantages, it aims to form an international collaborative innovation model among industry, university and research. This cooperation marks a leap of mutual cooperation from talent cultivation to industrialization of research output between the two universities.

The delegation meets with the rector of University of Education Weingarten. [Photo/International Cooperation and Exchanges Department]

During the visit to University of Education Weingarten, Prof. Chen Qiuming and Prof. Karin Schweizer, rector of the University of Education Weingarten, signed an intercollegiate cooperation framework agreement, establishing a long-term partnership in areas such as student exchange, faculty visits, and curriculum construction. The University of Education Weingarten delegation led by Prof. Karin Schweizer visited SZTU in March 2025, which laid the foundation for this cooperation.

When visiting FHNW, a leading university of applied sciences and arts in Switzerland, the two sides officially signed a dual degree cooperation agreement, planning to continue promoting the development of Swiss Innovation Centre Shenzhen and deepen interdisciplinary cooperation.

SZTU and Sprachenakademie Aachen achieve the intention of cooperation. [Photo/International Cooperation and Exchanges Department]

The delegation also signed a cooperation agreement with Lars LÜBBEN, the head of the Sprachenakademie Aachen, in order to carry out cooperation in areas such as multilingual training for students, of language teaching ability improvement for teachers, and establishment of standardized language examination centers. Sprachenakademie Aachen is an officially designated language training institution of Aachen University of Applied Sciences, serving over 12,000 students each year.

SZTU delegation visits Munich University of Applied Sciences. [Photo/International Cooperation and Exchanges Department]

At Munich University of Applied Sciences, the delegation had an in-depth discussion with its vice president Prof. Klaus Kreulich on the advantaged disciplines and university-enterprise cooperation, exploring cooperation in developing applied courses, organizing industry-education-research matchmaking meetings, and innovation and entrepreneurship competitions. As one of the largest universities of applied sciences in Germany, HM has built a partnership with SZTU since 2017, with 76 students from SZTU having participated in its summer schools and many professors from HM having given lessons at SZTU’s international weeks.

The delegation meets with Prof. Hans Van Ess, vice president for research, LMU Munich. [Photo/International Cooperation and Exchanges Department]

During the visit to LMU Munich, which ranks 58th in the QS World University Rankings 2026, the delegation had a discussion with its vice president Prof. Hans Van Ess, who is also an internationally renowned sinologist and Chairman of the Max Weber Foundation, to explore cooperation in scientific research innovation and interdisciplinary talent cultivation.

The delegation visits Siemens. [Photo/International Cooperation and Exchanges Department]

While visiting the Nuremberg Technical Training Center of Siemens AG, the delegation learned about its advanced industrial automation teaching facilities and the Siemens Mechatronic Systems Certification Program (SMSCP) training system. The two parties reached a cooperation intention on the implementation of SMSCP and teacher training. Since 2019, SZTU and Siemens China have signed a strategic cooperation framework agreement and carried in-depth cooperation in talent cultivation, training base building, faculty training, engineering capability certification, and scientific research.

The delegation visits United Machining Solutions Group. [Photo/International Cooperation and Exchanges Department]

At United Machining Solutions, one of the world’s largest machine tool manufacturers, the delegation had a discussion on deepening the cooperation in building the “Ministry of Education-Swiss Georg Fischer Intelligent Manufacturing Innovation Practice Base” with the company’s senior executives, including Stefan Dahl, head of Technology and Operations. As one of the first two undergraduate institutions in Guangdong Province selected into the project by the Ministry of Education, SZTU will strengthen cooperation with United Machining Solutions in international talent cultivation, intelligent manufacturing informatization, teaching resource construction, and joint research projects to jointly cultivate skilled talents in intelligent manufacturing technology.

Buoyed by the rich harvest of agreements and shared visions sealed across Germany and Switzerland, SZTU now sets its sights on the road ahead. In the coming years, these cooperation bridges are expected to evolve into a living, trans-Eurasian innovation corridor—one that continuously feeds talent, ideas and solutions back to Shenzhen and outward to the world, propelling SZTU ever closer to its ambition of becoming a world-class application-oriented university.

Drafted by Olivia（赖丽伟）/ International Cooperation and Exchanges Department

Revised by Brian（郑斌）/ International Cooperation and Exchanges Department

Edited by Brian（郑斌）/ International Cooperation and Exchanges Department